by Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On Saturday evening, December 7, Christ Episcopal Church’s Jazz in the Sanctuary series continued to raise money for Haiti with a “A Charlie Brown Christmas” featuring the John Paul McGee trio, including McGee on piano, Max Ridley on bass, and Lumanyano Mzi on drums. The trio was joined by the singer Lydia Harrell and cellist Patricia Jackson in performing the well-loved soundtrack from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” composed by Vince Guaraldi, along with other holiday favorites for a delighted audience.
Christ Church has partnered with the rural community of Lazil, Haiti, for over twenty years to provide ongoing financial support for St. Luc’s elementary school and their whole-community music program, launching a goat-raising program for the community, and helping with medical missions and support. Profits from the Jazz in the Sanctuary concerts help to support these programs.
Monster pianist McGee amazed the crowd with power chords, light and quick runs, and his own jazzy interpretations of traditional Christmas songs. McGee started playing the piano by ear at 4 years old, and he is now the current assistant chair of Piano at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The joyful and talented musicians playing with McGee offered an enthusiastic performance and solos displaying their highly developed chops. On, bass, Max Ridley used several nontraditional methods of playing to add a range of additional sounds to the music. Drummer Mzi busily utilized the whole range of his kit and added rim shots to accent the music.
Singer Harrell gently wove her songs from a lovely light, note-bending touch to high moments of exhilaration and joy, adding hand gestures to accentuate and interpret her melodies, and cellist Jackson joined the group to add a new sound and a fantastic solo to the last selection on the program.
To hear the John Paul McGee Trio, search You Tube for videos of their performances, and learn more about John Paul McGee himself at johnpaulmcgee.com.
